Whiting: Winter wear critical to stave off wind chill

Dec. 3, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 12:28 p.m.

1 of 7

Mark Rowe of San Clemente fist pumps when he is inaugurated into the Bear Mountain Ski Patrol in this photo from two years ago. His helmet keeps him warm and safe. His jacket keeps wind out. Note that the ski patrol member on the right is toasty in his beanie. This coming weekend, the ski patrol invites interested skiers and boarders to check them out. See box. DAVID WHITING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 7

A mountain biker zooms down Saddleback Mountain dressed for winter. Tights, gloves and a vest are especially good ideas. Remember, the wind chill increases the faster you go and descents can be especially cold. DAVID WHITING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 7

Mountain biker Roxanne Soto takes a break on Saddleback Mountain. A full shirt, headband and gloves, along with knee-high socks, keep her toasty. DAVID WHITING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 7

Mountain biker Roxanne Soto takes a break on Saddleback Mountain. A full shirt, headband and gloves, along with knee-high socks, keep her toasty. DAVID WHITING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 7

A jogger prepared for the elements runs along the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in New York's Central Park. But his choice is cotton, not so good when clothing gets wet in the cold. DAVID WHITING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 7

Jackets with hoods keep water off and warmth in. Here columnist David Whiting pauses during a rainstorm on Saddleback Mountain. DAVID WHITING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 7

Pit zips are a nice feature on jackets because they allow for adjusting to activity intensity and conditions while you keep the garment on. DAVID WHITING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Mark Rowe of San Clemente fist pumps when he is inaugurated into the Bear Mountain Ski Patrol in this photo from two years ago. His helmet keeps him warm and safe. His jacket keeps wind out. Note that the ski patrol member on the right is toasty in his beanie. This coming weekend, the ski patrol invites interested skiers and boarders to check them out. See box. DAVID WHITING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Whiting on white supremacy

What: "Wine tasting with a purpose" will have columnist David Whiting as a guest speaker discussing his recent six-part series on racism, hate crimes and white supremacy. But don't worry about Whiting, the evening very much features good conversation and six wines in two flights, three reds and three whites, and includes appetizers.

Ski with ski patrol

What: Columnist David Whiting has done this twice and says it's a fun, up-close look at the ski patrol. You ski or board with a patroller, have lunch with the patrol and learn if you want to join. Bring or rent your own equipment; lift ticket is free.

Why: Volunteering as a ski patrol member is an opportunity to give back, have an adventure – and ski or board for free.

With water in Orange County's streams and ski and board resorts starting to open, it's time to think about heading into local mountains.

But what to wear?

The trick to going high is remembering that the higher you go, especially in winter, the colder it gets. And if elevation includes more wind – which it often does in exposed areas such as Saddleback Mountain – temperatures can plunge quickly.

Consider that Monday, the high on Saddleback hovered around 50 degrees, about 10 degrees colder than the lowlands. Winds were around 10 mph.

With elevation and wind chill, the difference between walking near your home and hiking at Saddleback's summit was about 15 degrees.

Brrr.

Drop the temperature to 40 degrees and increase the wind to 20 mph, and the wind chill is subfreezing.

With an eye on holiday gifts and staying toasty, here are some tips:

LAYERING

Why: You may be just right the first 30 minutes of your activity, then when your body gets going you are overheated. Peel off a layer.

You may be fine on lower slopes where trees protect from wind, but when winds increase, you're cold. Add a layer.

Why: Reports vary, but however you measure, there's a lot of blood (and there are a lot of capillaries) in your head. Keeping the noggin warm is key to helping your body stay warm without a lot of work.

Yes, your body works to stay warm.

What: This depends a lot on your sport. Bear Mountain ski patrol members advise wearing snow helmets. They keep you warm and they keep you safe.

If you're hiking, trail running or mountain biking, a beanie – a wool or fleece cap – should do the trick. Yes, the beanie goes under your mountain-biking helmet, so thin ones work best.

Be sure the beanie can cover at least most of your ears. If you're the only one with earflaps, you may also be the only one comfortable if temperatures drop below the mid-30s.

Tip: If you find yourself without a beanie, any hat will offer some warmth. Your jacket may also have a built-in hood.

Cost: beanies, $10-$45; helmets, $60-$300.

JACKETS

Why: Keeping your core warm is key to survival. Keeping your arms warm is a nice bonus. A good jacket is worth the investment if you're playing in snow.

Remember those wind-chill numbers? Sitting on a chairlift with a balmy 30-degree temperature is great – until a 20 mph wind drops the wind chill to a very unbalmy 17 degrees.

What: For outdoor conditions, there are only two types of jackets to consider:

1. Wind- and water-resistant – These jackets vary greatly when it comes to resisting wind and water. Read online reviews, ask friends. They generally have two advantages over some waterproof jackets: They cost less. And they often breathe better, allowing sweat to escape without soaking you.

Cost: $50-$200.

2. Wind- and waterproof – This should mean no water and no wind get in during a storm. But some of these jackets fail to breathe and leave you feeling clammy. Years ago, Gore-Tex was one of the few materials to offer everything. Today, there are a variety of "membrane" jackets on the market that breathe well and are wind- and waterproof.

Cost: $150-$500.

Tip: A shell jacket without insulation or only a little insulation allows more layering options for different conditions than a big, insulated winter coat.

GLOVES, MITTENS

Why: Frozen fingers aren't fun. That may seem obvious. But you'd be amazed how many people forget their mittens.

What: Mittens or gloves? Mittens are warmer, but clumsy. Gloves can leave your fingers wanting more warmth. The best thing to do is try hand wear on for fit and preference.

I like a thin inner glove, which I often end up using alone. I've recently switched to a slightly thicker windproof model that I like a lot.

Inner gloves allow you to take off an outer glove and fiddle with something while still having a layer. I also prefer gloves with sleeves that go over my jacket so snow doesn't creep in when I fall.

Tip: If your fingers are cold, swing your arms in front and behind until they warm up. I learned this from a guide on Mount McKinley and it works.

Cost: $18-$150.

PANTS

Why: You'll look peculiar without them.

What: The rules that apply to jackets are very much the same with pants, but there's more wiggle room. Generally, our legs are pumping in the outdoors. So, you can get away with a little less waterproofing and more water-resisting. If you're skiing or boarding, weight of material is less of a concern.

Tip: For layering, an outer shell with full leg zippers is a very nice thing. The zippers allow you to change in an instant without removing boots. They also allow you to vent the outer shell.

Cost: $80-$450.

FOOTWEAR

What: We're talking socks. There are too many winter sports with too many options to cover boots and more here. Snowshoeing anyone?

Again, layer. I used to wear a thin inner polyester sock. Lately, I've started wearing two layers of wool when it's really cold.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.